Healthcare workforce Spanish language and cultural competency are vital to
better serve the Latino population. To meet this need we have created and pilot
tested a CAI-based distance education (DE) intervention called A su salud! (to
your health). The instructor-led program uses a health/drama on DVD, web,
workbook, and phone support. Over 1-month, 29 health care students and current
providers with intermediate Spanish skills started a DE pilot; 22 completed
the program. Participants were pre-and post tested for vocabulary, grammar,
oral comprehension and Spanish speaking skills, as well as a retrospective pre/post-test
to assess self-perception of skills. Although language skills are generally
not expected to improve over such a short time period, we found statistically
significant improvements in skills in every category except oral comprehension.

Test time (possible score)

Overall
(61.25)

Vocabulary
(24)

Grammar
(22)

Oral Comprehension
(10)

Speaking ability (5.25)

Pre

32.9±11.8

19.5±7.4

7.1±3.4

5.9±2.9

3.4±1.1

Post

46.8±8.7*

25.4±4.1*

14.6±4.9*

6.9+1.6

3.8±1.0*

* indicates statistically significant changes in test scores

The retrospective pre/post test indicated that participants perceived their
skills to significantly improve along
10 domains (topics include ability to: give directives in Spanish, speak in
Spanish, understand Latino
patients, interpret responses and elucidate critical information, identify when
to call for an interpreter). From
this brief pilot assessment we conclude that CAI- DE approaches such as A su
salud! can provide effective
strategies for improving Spanish language and cultural competency of health
care providers. Our efforts
continue to create an extensive 2-semester long DE program.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session
will be able to:

describe the potential use of distance education strategies to improve health
care for the Latino population

Presenting author's disclosure statement: Organization/institution whose
products or services will be discussed: University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill (program being developed and tested at this institution). I do not have
any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution
whose products or services are being discussed in this session.